Yes, that is a real police care and yes, that is Madison... about 2005
So how is Madison today? Hungry! She hasn't eaten since October 19th! Tube feeding is a major hassle, 60 syringes in to her feeding tube daily.
She re-started college on Monday, another wooo hooo milestone! She is also better able to swallow ice chips and while perhaps seemingly insignificant, it's a huge step forward!
She's taking mostly the same classes that were ripped away from her last October. but all new people. Dad is trying to convince Madi to walk up to the cutest guy with the most tattoos and say "why are you staring at my scars!" He'll of course deny it and feel bad wondering what happened. Next step would be "tattoo's are for sissy's, warriors have battle scars.... how about some lunch!" Over lunch, "really, you're going to eat in front of me, and pull out her feeding tube". She hasn't subscribed to that approach yet, but it'd be a highly confident ice breaker :-)
Oh, the pic. We were at Pierce College at a farming event when Madison was about 10. There were paramedics, firefighters, police officers with all their cool vehicles. I whispered to Madi "hey sugar, climb in that police car, hands behind your back, look very guilty..." this could be a Kodak moment! She asked if she would get in trouble I said "yea, they'll probably arrest you", so she climbed it. I had that picture in my office for years! People would ask "is that your daughter" to which I replied "used to be". I'd let them off the hook eventually. When she was about 11 Madison and I met someone for dinner: he had seen the picture and knew the real story. He mentioned to Madison that he had seen the picture in your dads office and asked what she did. Her response, "graffiti".
She's still a smart alack. Feeling particularly spunky today Madi asked if the scar on her wrist looks weird, "touch it right there dad". I touched it and she screeched as if in pain, then a huge smirk. Faker! We were both rolling with laughter!
She's got me twice now... Payback her way comes.
